System and method for facilitating distribution of limited resources

Abstract

A method is provided for distributing limited resources. The method comprising the following steps. A plurality of limited resources about to expire on a given day is determined. The plurality of limited resources is made available simultaneously. Resource requests from a plurality of clients for a registration period are allowed starting at a predetermined time. The resource requests are processed after the registration period by correlating the limited resources with the received resource requests.

We claim: 
     
       1. A system for distributing a limited resource selected from a plurality of limited resources in response to requests from a plurality of requestors, the system in communication with a main server configured to provide standard application server functionality, including administering the plurality of limited resources, and to implement a first connectivity policy for limiting connectivity thereto, the system comprising:
 a drop zone server configured to:
 implement at least a subset of functionality of the standard application server functionality provided by the main server for administering the plurality of limited resources; 
 receive resource requests directly from the plurality of requestors for the selected limited resource on behalf of the main server; and 
 implement a second connectivity policy for limiting connectivity thereto, the second connectivity policy allowing a lesser number of connections per requestor than the first connectivity policy; and 
 
 a drop zone control module configured to communicate with both the main server and the drop zone server to determine when the selected limited resource expires from the main server, parse the drop zone server for corresponding resource requests, determine which of the plurality of requestors is to receive the selected limited resource and distribute the selected limited resource accordingly. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the drop zone server is further configured to make the plurality of limited resources available simultaneously. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 2 , where the plurality of limited resources comprises all limited resources expiring on a given day. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 2 , wherein the selected limited resource is a previously used domain name; the resource request is a registration request; the main server is a main registry server configured to provide domain name system functionality. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 2 , wherein the selected limited resource is a new domain name; the resource request is a registration request; and the main server is a main registry server configured to provide domain name system functionality. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 2 , wherein the selected limited resource is an auction item; the resource request is a bid on the auction item; and the main server is a main auction server configured to provide auction functionality. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second connectivity policy limits each client to three connections. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the drop zone control module is a separate device part of the drop zone server. 
     
     
       9. A method for distributing a limited resource selected from a plurality of limited resources in response to requests from a plurality of requesters in conjunction with a main server configured to provide standard application server functionality, including administering the plurality of limited resources, and to implement a first connectivity policy for limiting connectivity thereto, the method stored as a set of instructions, which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to implement the steps of:
 implementing at least a subset of functionality of the standard application server functionality provided by the main server for administering the plurality of limited resources; 
 receiving resource requests directly from the plurality of requestors for the selected limited resource on behalf of the main server; 
 implementing a second connectivity policy, allowing a lesser number of connections per requestor than the first connectivity policy; and 
 communicating with the main server to determine when the selected limited resource expires from the main server, parse for corresponding resource requests, determine which of the plurality of requestors is to receive the selected limited resource and distribute the selected limited resource accordingly. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of limited resources comprises all limited resources expiring during a given day. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of limited resources are processed as they expire. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 9 , wherein duplicate resource requests are maintained and processed in a sequence in which they are received. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein if one of the resource requests fails, a subsequent duplicate resource request is processed. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the resource request fails due to insufficient funds in an account of a corresponding requesting client. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising instructions for providing a connection period prior to allowing the resource requests for enabling clients to ensure that they can establish a connection. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the limited resource is a previously used domain name; the resource request is a registration request; and a client is a registrar. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the limited resource is a new domain name; the resource request is a registration request; and a client is a registrar. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the limited resource is an auction item; the resource request is a bid on the limited resource; and a client is a bidder. 
     
     
       19. A system for distributing a domain name in response to requests from a plurality of requestors, the system in communication with a main server configured to provide standard domain name server functionality, including administering the domain name, and to implement a first connectivity policy for limiting connectivity thereto, the system comprising:
 a drop zone server configured to:
 implement at least a subset of functionality the standard domain name server functionality provided by the main server for connecting with the plurality of requestors and receiving registration requests for the domain name; 
 receive registration requests directly from the plurality of requestors for the domain name on behalf of the main server; and 
 implement a second connectivity policy, for limiting connectivity thereto, the second connectivity policy allowing a lesser number of connections per requestor than the first connectivity policy; and 
 
 a drop zone control module configured to communicate with both the main server and the drop zone server to determine when the domain name expires from the main server, parse the drop zone server for corresponding resource requests, determine which of the plurality of requestors is to receive the domain name, and distribute the domain name accordingly. 
 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 19 , wherein the drop zone control module is a separate device part of the drop zone server.